Lectures
During the GNE lecture season, talks are given about once a month and unless otherwise stated, these are delivered in English. The visiting speakers are all experts in their chosen fields and their lectures are both informative and entertaining. They may feature different aspects of British life, arts and culture, places and people. Occasionally we are also treated to a traveller`s tale. Wherever possible, lectures are illustrated.
An overview of this year`s programme is given below. For more details on the talks please click
talks. For the full programme with dates, venues and entry fees per branch, please click
branches.
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John Pilkington:
A Stroll through the Axis of Evil
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John`s talk is titled `A Stroll through the Axis of Evil`; Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran are in the news for all the wrong reasons. Starting in Beirut, John will unravel a picture quite different to the news stories as he followed a winding route via the Euphrates, the Caucasus and the Valley of the Assassins to finish on the Persian Gulf. John Pilkington has been called “one of Britain’s greatest tellers of travellers’ tales”.
Read more...
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John Gilroy:
Tyger, Tyger or The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere
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John Gilroy retired from his post as Senior Lecturer in English at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge in 2005, but still teaches in its department part-time. He also teaches for the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education on both its residential courses and its international summer schools for which he is a course director.
John has lectured widely in Britain and internationally for organisations such as The English-Speaking Union, ‘Inscape’ Fine Art Tours and for GNE. He specialises in literature of the Romantic period and has published on Wordsworth, Gerard Manley Hopkins and Philip Larkin. His latest book, ‘Romantic Literature’, for the new York Connections series will appear in 2010.
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Julian Paren:
A photographic evening: The Antarctic Experience or The global climate change
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Julian has a choice of three talks:
1. A photographic evening: Going South - the Antarctic Experience
2. The global climate challenge
3. Exploring the islands and western coast of Scotland
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Andy Thomas:
Exploring Unexplained Mysteries, Global Cover-Ups and 2012 Prophecies
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Andy is a leading researcher into unexplained mysteries and is the world’s most prolific writer on crop circles. His many books include Vital Signs, described widely as the definitive guide to the circle phenomenon. His newest and much acclaimed title, The Truth Agenda, explores the link between paranormal mysteries and global cover-ups.
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Lawrence Goldman:
Dutch Connection in British History: Dutch Lives in the Oxford Dictionary of Nat Biography
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The illustrated lecture uses the Dictionary as a means of exploring the historic connections between Britain and the Netherlands in both directions, examining the Dutch who came to live and work in Britain from the Reformation onwards, and Britons who visited the Low Countries.
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